Circuit interrupter



' Sept 3, 1929- G. G. GRlsslNGl-:R 1,726,953

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Fi1ed March 12, i925 Patented Sept. 3, 1929.vv

UNITED STATES 1,726,953 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE G. GRIssINGER, OE WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNOR To WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC a MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORFORATION or PENNSYL- VANIA.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

Appiication aied Marchia, i925. serial No. 14,965.

Mv invention relates to electrical protective `devices and particularly to circuit interrupters of extremely narrow construction.

One object of my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter, the overall width of which shall not materially exceed the width of the contact element thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter that may be rcadily inserted int-o existing parallel conductors without the necessity of redistributing such conductors.

A .further obj ect of my invention is to pro` vide a circuit interruptor capable of being i5 mounted on extremely short-center lines, of

the order of three inches.

In many central stations, a. large number of electrical conductors are arranged in parallel relation on center lines that are' just sutliciently long to furnish a sutlicient air dielectric, or insulating medium, tlierebetween. Such center lines are of the order of a very few inches and especially is this tiiie where the electrical conductors consti- 5 tute portions of a 25() volt direct-current sys-A tem. It is frequently found advisable to insert circuit interrupters in such electrical conductors without the necessity of re-arranging the location of the entire group of electrical conductors. Accordingly, I have provided a circuit interruptor that is extremely narrow and which may be inserted in such groups of electrical conductors without the necessity of increasing the distance therebetween.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a circuit interruptor embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is an edge view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of the circuit interrupter.

My invention comprises, in general, a panel 1 on which are mounted a plurality of stationary contact members 2 and 3 that are electrically connected by a bridging or movable contact member 4 that is actuated by a closing coil 5 through a toggle mechanism 6.

The toggle mechanism 6 may be of any preferred form which comprises a handle 7 for manual operation, a suitable system of levers 8 that constitute a toggle for actuating the movable contact member 4 and a latch 9 for holding the toggle 6 in its extended position. These parts may be of any suitable design provided that their total width does not exceed the width of the movable contact member 4.

The closing coil 5 is of novel construction iii order to secure the necessary magnetic strength without exceeding the permissible width of the circuit interrupter. It comprises a solenoid 11 that is mounted in a suitable frame 12 of sheet iron. A brass guide tube 13 separates the solenoid 11 from a stationary portion 14 of the core member and a movable portion 15 thereof. The movable portion of the armature is secured by a shaft 1G to one of the levers 8 of the toggle mechanism. Solenoid 11 is of accentuated rectangular cross-section. In order to accomplish this result, the armature portions 14 and 15 are extremely broad and long, but yer-y narrow in width, thereby constituting in effect straps of metal.

.The solenoid 11 is mounted on the panel 1 in such manner that its shortest dimension is parallel to the panel 1, whereby the solenoid is in edgewise relation thereto. Inusniucli as the overall length and depth of this circuit breaker is not an essential feature thereof, the saving in width is had at the eX- pense of increasing the depth thereof.

Suitable tripping coils 17 are mounted within the metal frame 12 between the closing coil 5 and the stationary contact member 3. These coils are mounted one above the other and are separated by a portion 1721 of the metallic frame 12 in order to secure a minimum diameter and still develop the necessary magnetic strength. A common armature 18 extends through the coils 17 and engages vthe latch 19 for actuating the latter to release the toggle 6 under conditions of overload. For the manual release of the circuit interrupter, a lever 19 is pivoted to the frame 12, as at 21, and engages the lower end of the armature 18, but is biased outwardly therefrom by a coil spring 22. Vhen it is desired to manually release the circuit interruptor. the lever 19 is given a counter-clockwise turning movement about the shaft 21 and the armature 18 is raised, thereby releasing the levers 8.

The circuit interrupter may be closed either manually, as by the movement of the handle 7 into the dotted line osition, or electrically by the energization of3 the closing coil 5. When the latter method is employed, the solenoid 11 is energized and the movable portion 15 of the armature is drawn down- Wardly into engagement with the stationary portions 14. This movement is transmitted throlwh the shaft 16 and through the levers 8 and the movable contact member 4 is moved into circuit-closing position. y

It will thus be seen that I have provided a circuit interrupter of the air-brake type that is characterized b having an extremely small overall Width,l n order to secure this minimum dimension, I have found it neces-v sary to devise a closing coil of particular construction which has heretofore been described.

I do not wish to be restricted to the arrangement of p-arts herein set forth, as various modiications thereof may be effected Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. lIn a circuit interrupter of the air-brake` type, a stationary contact member, a movable contact member, an actuating electromagnet and a connecting toggle mechanism, all of said part-s being confined in a space having a dimension substantially equal to the Width of the movable contact member.

2. In a circuit interrupter of the air-brake type, a stationary contact member, a movable contact member, an actuatingl electromagnet and a connecting toggle mechanism, all of said parts being confined in a space whose Width is substantially the same as that of the movable contact member.

3. In a circuit interrupter of the air-brake type, a stationary contact member, a movable contact member, an actuating electromagnet of rectangular cross-section and a connecting toggle mechanism, all of said parts being' confined in a space Whose Width is substantially the same as that of the movable contact member. A

4. In a circuit interrupter of the air-brake type, a stationary contact member, a movable contact member, an actuating electromagnet of accentuated rectangular cross-section and a connecting toggle mechanism, all of said parts being confined in a space whose Width is substantially the same as that of the movable contact member.

5. In a circuit interrupt-er of the air-brake .relation to the stationary contact member for closing the circuit interrupter, a plurality of clectromagnets for opening the circuit interrupter, and a connecting toggle mechanism, all of said parts being confined in a space whose Width is substantially co-extensive Vith the Width of the movable contact mem- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day of March,

GEORGE G. GRISSINGER.

GERTHFICATE 0F CURRECTION.

Patent No. l, 726, 953.

Granted September 3, 1929, to

GERGE G. GRESSINGER.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 2, line 8, and lines 23, 3i), 37, 45, 53 and 65 ci the claims, ior the compound word "airbrake" read "airbreak"; and that tbe said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may coniorm to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day oi November, A. D. 1929.

(Seal) M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of. Patents. 

